Chapter 18-Panic

Hermione felt as if she was drowning. A pall of darkness lay across her consciousness-it was the oppressive feeling of guilt and she seemed unable to break through to the suface-though she felt safe, cherished even, a large part of her just wanted to give in to the oblivion but she couldn't something in her sub-conscious reminded her she had a promise to keep...but what was it? She couldn't remember.

"Hermione," Draco cajoled, "don't leave me, I couldn't bear it," he pleaded with her in his panic, still she didn't stir. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen-Blaise shouldn't have asked this of you. You don't need to stay with me, I won't make you stay against your will, we'll find a way to break the vow..." He dropped his head, his lips caressing her ear, his voice barely a whisper; "I love you, please come back to me." Still Hermione remained unresponsive.

"Ahem!" Blaise cleared his throat from the door way.

"I should kill you," Draco growled dangerously, Blaise looked like he had been exsanguinated but to his credit he held his nerve:

"I think you should get a healer." Blaise advised, "I will make discrete enquiries..."

"Fuck discrete, we're beyond discrete now-just find me the best," Blaise nodded and turned to leave.

Blaise returned quickly, healer in tow.

"What can you tell me about what happened to her Mr. Malfoy," Draco didn't immediately recognise Cho Chang, the former Ravenclaw alumni, but he answered her none the less.

"She took an unbreakable vow- and she broke it," he said, the undertone of panic returning to his voice

"And what exactly did she promise?" Cho asked

"Yes Blaise," Draco turned to his friend, "what did you make her promise?"

"Never to leave you," Blaise confessed remorsefully,

"Fuck Blaise how..."

"Daddy!" A small plaintive voice echoed from down the corridor stopping Draco's rant dead in its tracks.

Scorpius had waited patiently, all day he had waited for Miss Hermione to return and then his Daddy had left too. He knew his Daddy was upset so he tried to be good, he played quietly in his room while Daddy went to find Miss Hermione but his Daddy didn't come back and then he saw the funny man with the spiked black hair leave Miss Hermione at the gate.

Then Tiggy brought her into the house and she wasn't moving. Had Miss Hermione gone to be with his mummy?

"Daddy," he called out, Scorpius needed to know Miss Hermione was safe.

"What is it buddy?" Draco asked putting on a mask of bravery on his face for his boy's sake.

"Is Miss Hermione okay? I saw Tiggy bring her home and..." though he was trying to be brave his little lip began to quiver, "and she wasn't moving Daddy." He managed before giving way to a sob.

Draco had promised himself he would never lie to his son but this was one of those occasions when he wanted to break that vow.

"Hermione isn't well sport but the healers are with her now and there is no reason to suppose they won't make her better."

The little boy bit his lip, Draco could tell he had something to say but wasn't sure if he should say it.

"What is it Scorpius?" he demanded gently ruffling the little boys hair to let him know it was okay to tell his father anything.

"Will Miss Hermione go to be with Mummy if she doesn't get better?" The little boy asked his voice barely above a whisper.

Draco struggled to contain his emotions, but he was a father and he had to stay calm for Scorpius' sake.

"Please Merlin it doesn't come to that," was all he could manage to say.

"So you made a vow that she wouldn't leave yet here she is. Did she return of her own free will?" The dark haired former Ravenclaw sought clarification.

"No, Potter found her unconscious and brought her here." Blaise informed her

"My best guess is that she has to come back mentally of her own accord, I fear there is nothing we can do but wait."

Draco returned to hear the latter part of the conversation he looked at Cho devastated.

"Keep talking to her, she can hear you. Make sure she feels safe, give her time. As long as she wants to return..."

"And if she doesn't?" Draco interrupted

Cho didn't respond to his question, "make sure she stays hydrated. I will be back to check on her tomorrow."

A younger Draco would have ranted and raved at the healer's lack of progress but he had learnt his lesson during Astoria's illness so he stoically offered to see Cho out and walked her to the manor's gate.

"Bloody hell Malfoy," a somewhat irate Potter confronted him as they reached the gate, " how long were you going to leave me on your doorstep, I'm freezing my bollocks off out here," Harry complained.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise," Draco apologised in a subdued tone.

"Cho," Harry acknowledge, "how is she?" He asked looking between the pair.

"I'll return tomorrow Malfoy," Cho promised, leaving it to Draco to answer Harry's question.

Harry didn't stay long, just long enough to understand what was going on and to check that there was nothing more that he could do.

"Thank you for finding her," Draco told him with all sincerity. Harry was tempted to tell him that he hadn't done it for him but he could tell Malfoy was totally broken by the prospect that Hermione might not recover. Instead Harry asked something he had been wondering since he had read 'The Prophet' that morning .

"How long Malfoy?"

To his credit Draco didn't play dumb he understood that Harry was asking how long he had loved Hermione.

"Longer than you would believe," the blond confirmed.

Harry just nodded as he took his leave, wondering, not for the first time in his life, if he had misjudged Malfoy.

She couldn't remember, she tried to fight her way through the thick miasma that closed in on her but she couldn't remember why she needed to do, she had promised something but try as she might she couldn't recall what it was or why it was important to her. She thought to give up trying, what did it matter? It was peaceful here in the dark she told herself but she couldn't seem to move on something tethered her, a voice, she was sure she knew that voice...'I love you,' it whispered, 'come back to me,' and she knew if she followed that voice she would be safe.

Draco sat with her cradled in his lap for hours.

"Come back to me, Hermione," he begged, over and over he said it like an incantation to the gods.

"Draco," she unexpectedly stirred, "my children..." she cried out, a heart renting sob shattering the air.

"It's alright," he promised. as he stroked her hair gently, cradling her head against his shoulder, "we will get them back."

Author's note

So what is Draco prepared to do to get Hermione her children back? Well obviously you will have to read on to see:)

Some reviews would be gratefully received-very many silent readers not much feedback- honesty don't know if you are enjoying this?